In this study, the trypsin gene (bgtryp-1) from the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, was cloned via the immunoscreening of patients with allergies to cockroaches. Nucleotide sequence analysis predicted an 863 bp open reading frame which encodes for 257 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 42-57% homology with the serine protease from dust mites, and consisted of a conserved catalytic domain (GDSGGPLV). bgtryp-1 was determined by both Northern and Southern analysis to be a 0.9 kb, single-copy gene. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analyses of the recombinant protein (Bgtryp-1) over-expressed in Escherichia coli revealed that the molecular mass of the expressed protein was 35 kDa, and the expressed protein was capable of reacting with the sera of cockroach allergy patients. We also discussed the possibility that trypsin excreted by the digestive system of the German cockroach not only functions as an allergen, but also may perform a vital role in the activation of PAR-2.
Allergens/analysis/chemistry/*genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blattellidae/*genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Catalytic Domain/genetics ; DNA, Complementary/genetics ; Escherichia coli/metabolism ; Female ; *Genes, Insect ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Weight ; Receptor, PAR-2/metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins/analysis/biosynthesis/chemistry ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Trypsin/analysis/chemistry/*genetics

The rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate is very rarely encountered in the western literature, and only a few reports have been published in Korea. The authours recently experienced two cases of rhabdomyosarcomas of the prostate in 35-year-old and 51-year-old males who had suffered from gross hematuria and difficulty of urination. Microscopic studies showed embryonal type of rhabdomyosarcoma in two cases. The clinical and pathological features of the distinctive prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma are described, and a brief review of the literature is made.
Male ; Humans

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to compare the process of change, decisional balance, and self-efficacy according to the stages of change of exercise on the basis of the Transtheoretical Model in order to investigate factors associated with the change of exercise in adult diabetic patients. METHOD: Data were collected from January to April 2005. The subjects were 160 patients in the G university hospital and public health center in J city. RESULTS: The entire process of change showed the significant difference depending on the stage of change(F=20.007, p=.000). For each process of change, the Consciousness Raising(F=14.602, p=.000), Dramatic Relief(F=7.751, p=.000), Environmental Re-evaluation(F=11.843, p=.000), Self Re-evaluation(F=16.035, p=.000), Social Liberation(F=10.968, p=.000), Counter-conditioning (F=24.090, p=.000), Helping Relationships(F= 7.625, p=.000), Reinforcement Management(F= 16.693, p=.000), Self Liberation(F=11.990, p= .000) and Stimulus Control(F=4.020, p=.002) demonstrated significant differences depending on the stages of change of exercise. For the decisional balance, the Pros showed the significant difference depending on the stage of change(F=14.121, p=.000). For the self efficacy showed significant difference depending on the stage of change(F=17.137, p=.000). CONCLUSION: In order to proceed the stage of change of exercise in patients with Diabetes Mellitus, intensive use of a specific process of change, a stage of change matching is needed.
Adult ; Consciousness ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Humans ; Public Health ; Self Efficacy

Orbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, first described by Luis et. al in 1971, is a very rare tumor of characteristic histologic features. A 21-year-woman was admitted with a 4-month histoiry of rapidly progressive proptosis and visual disturbance. Right orbital exenteration was performed under the clinical diagnosis of orbital calcifying tumor. Grossly, the tumor presented as a multibloblated, circumscribed mass that measures 5.5 cm in the greatest dimentsion. Cut sections resembled ordinary chonrosarcoma. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, interspersed nodules of well differentated cartilagenous tissue, areas of gradual transition from undifferentiated mesenchymal cells to cartilage, and hemangiopericytoma-like areas. A brief summary of the histopathological aspect of this tumor and a review of literature are presented.
Female ; Humans

Verrucous carcinoma is a highly differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma and is very rare in the uterine cervix. It infiltrates locally but practically never metastasizes. Authors present a case of verrucous carcinoma arising in the uterine cervix of a 48 year-old Korean female and review literatures about the verrucous carcinoma reported.
Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop and apply a conceptualized PBL module for Fundamentals of Nursing. METHOD: A case study method was used to describe and explore the process of developing and implementing the PBL module. RESULT: This module included three PBL packages that were designed to deal with more complexed and indepth concepts as the packages proceeded. In order to achieved that, all the contents of Fundamentals of Nursing II and III were reorganized and integrated into three main concepts, hygiene, infection and dehydration. This module was implemented for first year college student nurses in the second semester of year 2000. The student self-evaluation results showed that they were generally satisfied with their achievement in learning, both final outcome and process. Also, the results indicated that they were more satisfied with the subject management, the lecturer and their peers after implementing PBL. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the potentiality for the application of a partially integrated PBL module within an existing subject. However, when student learning needs were beyond the extent of Fundamentals of Nursing, the lecturer had to set boundaries on learning content and this may have reduced the effects of learning. Therefore, the researchers emphasize the importance of developing an integrated PBL curriculum to maximize student learning outcomes.
Curriculum ; Dehydration ; Diagnostic Self Evaluation ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Learning ; Nursing*

Chordoid meningioma is a recently established meningeal tumor and is characterized by a chordoma like histologic appearance, peritumoral lymphoplasma cell infiltrates causing systemic manifestations similar to Castleman syndrome and having a good prognosis. We experienced a case of chordoid meningioma in a 25 year-old woman. The patient preoperatively manifested iron-resistant hypochromic microcytic anemia, polyclonal gammopathy with beta-gamma bridging and detected a huge mass in the right temporo-parietal convexity of the brain. Microscopically, the mass was composed of nests and cords of cuboid, partly vacuolated cells in a mucoid matrix, simulating chordoma. The tumor was surrounded by masses of lymphoplasma cells around vessels, many of the plasma cells contained Russell bodies. Ultrastructural findings showed intranuclear cytoplasmic invaginations, microvilli protruding from cytoplasmic surfaces and well formed desmosomes. Some portions of tumor cell surface were covered by stretches of basal lamina.
Female ; Humans ; Meningioma

OBJECTIVES: Despite the importance of human immunodefi-ciency virus(HIV) transmission through heterosexual contact, the features of heterosexual transmission has not been well studied in Korea. So we conducted a cross sectional study to determine the transmission rates in married couples and assess risk factors for male to female heterosexual transmission of HIV. METHODS: 169 HIV-infected males and their female sex partners were recruited from 1985 to June 1998. We examined female sex partners HIV infection status and interviewed male index partners and their female sex partners about demographic characteristics and sexual practices. We analysed heterosexual transmission rate by epidemiologic characteristics, disease status and sexual practices. And we assessed risk factors for HIV infection by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: 30 female sex partners were infected at enrollment, yielding an transmission rate of 17.8%. Among couples who had used condoms consistently, none of the female sex partners was infected with HIV. In univariate analysis the significant risk factors were full blown AIDS status (OR=4.1, 95% CI: 1.49-11.43) and low CD4 T cell count of index partners at enrollment (OR=7.8, 95% CI: 2.19-27.80). In multivariate analysis HIV-1 RNA levels was significant risk factor when adjusted by CD4 T cell counts and mean sexual contacts per month (OR=19.2, 95% CI: 1.03-357.59) CONCLUSION: The risk of male to female heterosexual transmission increased with advanced stages of HIV infection in the index male partners.
Cell Count ; Condoms ; Family Characteristics ; Female* ; Heterosexuality* ; HIV Infections ; HIV* ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors* ; RNA

No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

Esophageal reflux of gastric contents causes esophageal mucosal damage and inflammation. Recent studies show that oxygen-derived free radicals mediate mucosal damage in reflux esophagitis (RE). Chlorogenic acid (CGA), an ester of caffeic acid and quinic acid, is one of the most abundant polyphenols in the human diet and possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-oxidant activities. In this context, we investigated the effects of CGA against experimental RE in rats. RE was produced by ligating the transitional region between the forestomach and the glandular portion and covering the duodenum near the pylorus ring with a small piece of catheter. CGA (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) and omeprazole (positive control, 10 mg/kg) were administered orally 48 h after the RE operation for 12 days. CGA reduced the severity of esophageal lesions, and this beneficial effect was confirmed by histopathological observations. CGA reduced esophageal lipid peroxidation and increased the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio. CGA attenuated increases in the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein. CGA alleviates RE-induced mucosal injury, and this protection is associated with reduced oxidative stress and the anti-inflammatory properties of CGA.
Animals ; Catheters ; Chlorogenic Acid* ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Diet ; Duodenum ; Esophagitis, Peptic* ; Free Radicals ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Glutathione ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Omeprazole ; Oxidative Stress ; Polyphenols ; Pylorus ; Quinic Acid ; Rats* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha